Physical only thing between Maxwell, Mavericks

DALLAS (AP) - Vernon Maxwell could be working out with the Dallas Mavericks as soon as Thursday and in their backcourt rotation for their next game on Saturday against Houston.

All that was standing in the way was a physical. Maxwell, who has been out of the NBA since Philadelphia waived him in December, was to take the exam Wednesday. He must sign by Thursday to be eligible for the playoff roster.

"I just think this is a good opportunity for me," Maxwell told The Dallas Morning News after arriving in town Tuesday. "It had to be the right situation for me. I wanted to play, but I wanted to come to a good team that's doing well and winning."

While Maxwell has averaged 13 points per game over his 15-year career, his checkered reputation in locker rooms and away from the court have often overshadowed his long jumpers.

In January he was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and two years' probation and was ordered to continue anger-management counseling after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault. In 1998, he served a 90-day jail sentence stemming from a conviction for marijuana possession.

But the Mavericks, who are in position to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, were willing to overlook Maxwell's "Mad Max" persona because they need a shooting guard. Their depth was thinned after trading Hubert Davis and Courtney Alexander to Washington in the five-for-three trade that brought Juwan Howard to Dallas.

This isn't the first time owner Mark Cuban has taken on a veteran badboy to try plugging a hole. He signed Dennis Rodman last season to addressing the team's rebounding problems, then cut him after 29 trouble-filled days.

"Sure, people will compare this to Rodman, but we're not tied down in any way," Cuban said. "Just like before, if there's any problem, we part ways."

Maxwell would make only $294,118 - the prorated share of the $1 million veteran minimum - if he completes the regular season in Dallas.

"Vernon's a hired gun," assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who doubles as player-personnel director, said. "He plays defense, and he knows how to win. Other teams won't want to see him with the ball late in games."

The Mavericks opened a roster spot Tuesday by placing Obinna Ekezie, who come over from the Wizards, on the injured list because of a sprained ankle. The team was off Wednesday after consecutive road victories against the Los Angeles Clippers and Vancouver.

The Mavericks would be Maxwell's eighth team and would give him the "Texas trio" as he's had two stints with San Antonio and he helped Houston win consecutive championships in 1994-95.